Heroes are attractive by definition. This WWII soldier definitely earned the title while facing gunfire nude. Photographer Horace Bristol captured the unique moment in a rare photograph that has just hit the Internet.

Since Japanese coastal defense guns were firing at the plane while it was in the water during take-off, this brave young man, after rescuing the pilot, manned his position as machine gunner without taking time to put on his clothes. A hero photographed right after he’d completed his heroic act. Naked.

Photo taken by Horace Bristol (1908-1997). In 1941, Bristol was recruited to the U.S. Naval Aviation Photographic Unit, as one of six photographers under the command of Captain Edward J. Steichen, documenting World War II in places such as South Africa, and Japan. He ended up being on the plane the gunner was serving on, which was used to rescue people from Rabaul Bay (New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea), when this occurred. In an article from a December 2002 issue of B&W magazine he remembers:

“…we got a call to pick up an airman who was down in the Bay. The Japanese were shooting at him from the island, and when they saw us they started shooting at us. The man who was shot down was temporarily blinded, so one of our crew stripped off his clothes and jumped in to bring him aboard. He couldn’t have swum very well wearing his boots and clothes. As soon as we could, we took off. We weren’t waiting around for anybody to put on formal clothes. We were being shot at and wanted to get the hell out of there. The naked man got back into his position at his gun in the blister of the plane.”

Its so many yrs later--but this picture of a brave young man is heroic---Does anyone know who the guy is? I really hope he made it through the war and had a happy life----Does anyone know? I hope the guy lived and had a happy life---I would like to know if he survived thanks

I for one think this is a picture that shows the dedication and strength these soldiers had. I "quite frankly my dear, don't give a damn" if he was wearing a pink hello kitty tutu. As long as he fought for this country and saved lives so that we, the people of today, could live. Then keep taking naked pictures. And doing the duty you signed up for. Whether you are Gay, Black, White, Asian, Lesbian, Female, or even Asexual. You keep fighting for our right to say such hatred and support alike.

LOL that's funny dude, keep thinkin' that ... gay dudes are lusted after by straight chicks all the time. If they wanted to fuck chicks they wouldn't have ANY trouble getting one. You're just mad cause gay dudes have (on average) bigger dicks than you straight, homophobic douchenozzles, and that's not just me, that's science motherfucker :)

Just sounds like you are the one who can't get a female and are just jealous that gay men get more sexual pleasure then you do with just your lonely hand. Also, if you've ever fucked a girl in the asshole (doubt that you ever had a girl in general seeing as you're a conceited prick) or wanted to, then you are a hypocrite. As a straight male you should want nothing to do with an asshole, girls or guys, and should only fuck a vagina. Since anal sex is unnatural, Vaginal sex should be the only sex that you have. It would be unnatural to fuck her in her asshole because only a penis inside a vagina can end up in reproduction and be "natural." Now please, GTFO with your stupidity you cunt. :)

The sexual appeal of the man's naked buttocks brings into question so many aspects of male-male relationships. If all the men who tried successfully to kill or maim one another in WW II had instead bared their backsides for each other's pleasure, would the war have never happened? (And by the way, my dad during WW II sent home photos of whole groups of sailors on the deck of his ship exercising together totally nude.)

More like it was Blazing hot! I spend 14 years in the army and many times we walked around nude cause it was fucking HOT and humid. nothing sexual. and for those who impose your narrow ignoarnt sexual views: please shut the fuck up. and go back under the rock you live under.

Anything with the government involved tells me it can't be trusted. I would require double the proof.

What catches my eye as to this could be fake is the mans haircut doesn't look like a WWII cut to me, or at least it doesn't from the picture. Who knows. Regardless if it's real I'm sure it has take. Place just maybe not on film. men that age usually aren't shy about their bodies, especially if they have a body like that. As well as around other men whom are their fellow solders

yes, even in the '40's guys didn't always hide their thighs when sunbathing. unlike the fucking immature, homophobic and puritanical thigh-covered 'look' we've had in the u.s. for 25 yrs! yes, our idiocy has spread 'some'. but many guys in europe, s. amer., australia, etc, still wear bikini's, "speedos" or other 'real' suits.